Alex Ferguson has hinted at the summer exits of some senior Manchester United players, despite retaining hope of landing a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The Scot accepts his side are in need of improbable assistance from neighbours Wigan and the situation looks "bleak". Yet even if United somehow overturn the odds and become the first team to win four consecutive championships, he feels changes in personnel are inevitable.
"You have to take a decision about where we can improve the team," Ferguson told MUTV. "When you are challenging for four trophies it can have a draining effect. You have to be aware of that and spot the moment when it is time to freshen up one or two players.
"It is not a desire to do it but you need to do it because the demands and pressures on players can, over time, be quite exacting."
Ferguson has, however, confirmed Jonny Evansis on the verge of signing a new long-term deal. After spending a couple of spells on loan at Sunderland, Evans has made huge progress in the last two seasons.
The Northern Ireland international has now made 64 first-team appearances for United, the latest coming in Sunday's victory at the Stadium of Light, and has proved himself good enough to stand in for Rio Ferdinand during the defender's increasingly frequent injury absences.
Although there has been no formal announcement from Old Trafford, Ferguson said at last night's player-of-the-year awards that Evans has agreed a new deal, which is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
"Jonny has proved himself," said the United boss told MUTV. "He has signed a new contract and helps to provide a good foundation for the club for a long time."
Goalkeeper Ben Fosteraccepts he may be one of those to move on. The 27-year-old started the campaign with high hopes of becoming United's number one goalkeeper but the season turned into a disaster.
Ferguson once felt confident enough about his progress to proclaim his belief the former Stoke man would go to the World Cup as England's number one as well.
However, given the chance to fill the void created by a pre-season injury to Edwin van der Sar, Foster made two high-profile blunders.
His first mistake in the Manchester derby was cancelled out when Michael Owen scored a dramatic late winner in the sixth minute of injury time, but the second against Sunderland resulted in a Kenwyne Jones goal that looks likely to prove crucial in the title race.
While Foster accepts any move away from Old Trafford is a step down, he knows it is inevitable.
"You never want to leave Manchester United," he told the Manchester Evening News. "If you leave this club you are only ever going to go down.
"But I want to be playing football. I am not interested in just hanging around and I would go if the club wanted to sell me.
"If they are happy to accept a bid then you have to read between the lines and realise you are not really needed and move on. It would not be the end of the world for me."
Wayne Rooneywill certainly be part of United's future.
The impact he has made at Old Trafford this season was confirmed at the club's annual player of the year awards as he lifted the three major prizes; fans and players' player of the year, plus the best goal.
"It was my best hat-trick," reflected Rooney, who will go into the final game with 34 goals to his name but knowing it should never have come to this.
"It has probably been the hardest Premier League. All the teams have lost games.
"If we could have been more consistent we would have won it.
"We shouldn't be losing seven games, even if other teams have dropped points as well."
Meanwhile, Ferguson will not torture himself by wondering where it went wrong if Manchester United fail to land a record fourth title on the trot.
Currently a single point adrift, there are a number of obvious points where the gap could have been made up.
"I used to look at every game but you can torture yourself with that," he told MUTV. "We lost at Burnley at the start of the season. That was three points and we also missed a penalty. If we had scored that we might have won or at least got a draw that might have made a difference.
"We had a couple of refereeing decision against Chelsea. You could look at all things.
"You can twist and torture yourself but it happens. We get breaks ourselves sometimes."